Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
Ace
McKenzie Johnson and reliever
Dani Trentadue combined for a five-inning no-hitter in Game 1, then
Claire Stillwell struck out 10 in five innings in the nitecap as the Triton College softball team swept Moraine Valley Community College 8-0 and 12-4 in a doubleheader on April 14.in River Grove.
Boosting the pitching were outfielder
Melissa Gonzalez's seven RBIs in the doubleheader and
Breanne Deutscher's three-run homer that gave Stillwell the lead for good in the second game.
Triton (25-17) put everything together in shortening each game to five innings via the eight-run rule. Gonzalez already had collected three doubles for the day when she capped the afternoon with a clinching two-run homer in the fifth of Game 2.
With a heavy schedule this weekend, Trojans coach
Christina Christopher limited Johnson (10-5) to three innings in Game 1. The right-hander had her strikeout pitches at full bore, using her screwball and rise ball to amass seven. She now has 143 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings this season.
Trentadue then took over for two more hitless innings as her lineup built the lead with two runs in each of the four innings they batted.
"I was proud of Dani, one of my best friends and my roommate," Johnson said. "Every single time out there, I'd tell her to slow down, she doesn't need to be fast in each pitch. We gave each other a big hug after the game. We're absolutely proud to hold down (the Cyclones)."
On the picture-perfect spring afternoon, neither Johnson nor Trentadue had to sweat out every pitch. Gonzalez, a veteran from the Trojans last two national tournament appearances, had RBI doubles in the first and second, and a sacrifice fly in the fourth.
Tiffany Lepic added a two-run single while
Chayton Krueger had an RBI triple.
"I felt this was a regular day at the office," Gonzalez said of her big day. She appreciates the pressure of her veteran's status to come through in the clutch. "By a thousand," she added.
Stillwell (9-8), has had an up-and-down season. The narrative looked like more of the same in the first inning of Game 2, when she gave up three runs on three hits. But Stillwell had an important trifecta with three strikeouts to wiggle out of further trouble.
The right-hander then settled down to allow only one more run through the next four innings, with seven more strikeouts.
"My screwball was working," said Stillwell. "I knew my defense would come around and be behind me."
When the top two pitchers have their best stuff going, "we push each other to the max, and it makes us better," Stillwell said of her rapport with Johnson.
Gonzalez got the Trojans on the scoreboard with a first-inning sacrifice fly. Then Deutscher topped off a five-run second inning with her homer.
"I was definitely very excited, to continue producing," said Deutscher. "I was really proud to help (Stillwell)."
Further helping her pitcher, Deutscher made a nice running catch in short right field in the top of the third. Stillwell struck out the side, stranding runners on second and third with none out.
Melissa Gonzalez warmed up for her final act with her third RBI double of the day in the fourth, then scoring on
Gabby Gonzalez's two-run homer.
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(Story by tritonathletics.com contributor George Castle)
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